The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-26
DEMOCRATS IN TEE HOUSE.

Prospect that They viii Secure Little Party
Legislation Next Session.
Washington special in New York Evening Post
There does not seem to be any good reason
why greater wisdom should be expected of th&
Democratic leaders Of the House in 1887 than in
1885, For the most part, the leaders the
same men, and they have deal with the Same
issues. The changes in the Democratic MEM
bership of the new House will. OF strengthen
the Democratic party. Some OF the oldest aud
most experienced leaders will be absent In the
Fiftieth Congress, and their places will, in con-
spicuous instances be filled by men who though
they may have as mucn abb lity, have much less
of the wisdom that comes of experience. Yet
the Democrats had in the last House q majority
of forty, while in the present House they do
not claim to have majority OF more than eleven.
The conditions otherwise are not altered, save
that the presidential election is two years nearer
than il was when the Forty ninth Congress
convened. There is argument which can be
presen ted now in behalf of a revision OF the tariff
and reform in customs abuses. which was not
submitted then. No prophet mas arisen
who can present the cause of tariff reform with
greater power and vieor than some Of the gian ts
of the party who have fallen by the way. On
the contrary. caucus will find it more dficuls
to enforce its DEGREES than II did In the last Con-
gress
The report that Mr.. Carlisle intends to make
an aggressive fight against Mr Randall is net
pFoosba. ana ofssinAfes d ou btless In the ind,s-
Greet statement OF some OF Mr. tariisies friends
If the Democrats intend TO secompiish anything
i. tho Way OF tariff legislation. they Will find it
necessary. at early period of Congress. To
agree upon some compromise bill. otherwise an
other Congress will pass with plenty of high
sounding phrases TO the necessity of REFORM
and the absurd theories OF the protectionists,
ana there all attempts at legislation will end.
The suggestion tnat there may be q division
in Democratic counsels calls attention to the
fact that there some ambitious men In the
little clique of Independents in the House who
prepared to take advantage of any emcrgen-
cy to attempt to capture the organization. Prop
ositions looking to this end have been made,
and have been considerd in quarters where
these independents have much influence. Sew
eral of the labor organizations have been con-
sidering the practicabity of attempting
capture, and proposing for Speaker
man who might, by of coalition.
secure a majority vote The plan WAS
more seriously considered at the close OF the
last Congress than it is now. One or two promi-
nent Republicans have been asked dehEitey
whether the Republicans in the House, in csr-
tain contingenctes would Operate IN such q
movement. Tn of inside the sup
posed Democratic n.sjority in the House have
been mentioned in these conferences. who
might, under certain conditions, be relied upon
to refuse go into the Democratic caucus and
who would vote for On Independent candidate
for Speaker. t. has not been coDsum-
mated and il is certain not to be, unless
some of the NOR headed Of the Democratic
leaders precipta.- fatal dissension in the ranks
of their parry.